BTCNJ MasterLink/May 2014
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masterlink / MAY 2014
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Contents4 President’s Message
Cycling the Nation’s Capital
6 Ride Captain’s CornerChanges in the Ride Leader Point System
7 CyclingCountry Roads Ride
8 Volunteer of the MonthAmy Rafferty
9 Gadgets and GearThe North American Hand-Built Bike Show
10 Tour AnnouncementsVermont Ramapo Labor Day Bike TourBike the Amish CountryNew Zealand
13 Letters to the PresidentRespecting Each Other
This Month5 BTCNJ Annual Picnic
Sunday, May 18, 2014
8 May Membership MeetingThursday, May 8, 2014, 7:30pm
8 CycloFemme Global Women’s Ride Saturday, May 10, 2014
4
9
7
On The Cover:The Defensive Biking Skills Workshop was held on April 5, 2014.Participants learned how to stay safe through a mix of both classroom learning and on-the-bike activities.Photograph by Leslie Felsen
masterlink / MAY 2014
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PRESIDENTRalph Monti
VICE PRESIDENTAlan Scherl
SECRETARYRhonda Pekow
RIDES CAPTAINAndres [email protected]
WEBMASTERLarry [email protected]
SPCL. EVENTS/VOL. DEVELOPMENTLeslie Felsen
TREASURERFranklin Wimer
MEMBERSHIPHarold [email protected]
RALLY CHAIRPERSONStephen [email protected]
MASTERLINKMarc Soloff
PUBLICITYBarbara Augenblick
TOURSBill Telgheder
PAST PRESIDENTEthan Brook
MasterLink Submissions:Materials for MasterLink are due the 23rd of each month for publication
in the following month’s issue. Please send articles, photos, letters, or comments to MasterLink, at our email address [email protected]. Materials may be edited by the MasterLink staff for length and clarity. Publication of materials
submitted is at the discretion of the Editor. All materials submitted for publication become the property of BTCNJ. Due to copyright laws, any articles, photos, cartoons,
art, etc., that have appeared in other publications may not be published in MasterLink without written consent of the copyright holder.
Photos in MasterLink may not be reused or republished without prior permission.
Protection of the Intellectual Property of BTCNJ
We welcome your creative suggestions for promotional activities using the Club’s brands, however, the Club’s name, slogans, designs and logos are its intellectualproperty, which embody the “goodwill” of the Club as developed over the yearsthrough service to its members and the community, with thanks to the volunteer efforts of countless members. In order to preserve and protect our goodwill, it is critical that all use of the Club’s intellectual property be properly regulated. Please do not reproduce or simulate the Club logo, the names “BTCNJ” or “Bicycling Touring Club of North Jersey”, or any other brands such as “Ramapo Rally”and “MasterLink” on shirts, caps, jerseys, bottles, stickers, or any other merchandisewithout authorization from our Merchandise Chair, Harold Todman.
Did YouKnow...
• That your club has an OUTREACH program?
• That there’s a dedicated group ofclub members who’ve offered tolend a hand, an ear, a shoulder, to visit or other assistance tomembers in need?
• That you can volunteer to join thisterrific group of people and feelreally good about doing so?
• That you too might be in need of OUTREACH one day?(We hope not, but you neverknow.)
• That offering your services is as easy as contacting one of us below.
If you become aware of any members who are ill, have had anaccident or a death in the family,please let us know by getting intouch with our contact for themonth listed below.
If you would like to joinour Outreach committee, please contact:Barbara [email protected]
May 2014, Volume 37, Number 05. Circulation: approx. 1,500 via electronic download.MasterLink is published 12 times per year as the official publication of the
Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey,PO Box 853, Ridgewood NJ 07451. Our website is www.btcnj.com.
©2014 by the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, all rights reserved.“MasterLink”, “BTCNJ”, “BTCNJ.COM”, “Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey” (words and
logo), and “Ramapo Rally” are trademarks of the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey.
If you really want to get juiced upabout the growth of the hobbyyou’re dedicated to, then you
should plan a visit to Washington,D.C. Along with 40 other BTCNJmembers, I spent a weekend in Apriltouring our nation’s capital by ridingits extensive trail network in and outof the city.
Washington is a cy-clist’s paradise, not onlygeared for bike com-muters, but for enthusi-asts like us too. Thereare cyclists of all agesand types pedaling allover town and its sub-urbs. The city also fea-tures a vigorous bikeshare program calledCapital Bikeshare. In ad-dition to a preponder-ance of street bike lanes,there is a trail networklike no other city I’ve vis-ited. Bike lanes and trailssnake in and out of thecity, and to points farout west and south into the Virginiacountryside, and north and east intoMaryland.
Generally, I’m not a big fan of trailriding, because in my view theypresent far more dangers than streetcycling. To be sure, you’re constantlyon guard for an ever-changing landscape of challenges and obsta-cles. These include the odd undula-tions that often appear on trails,meandering pedestrians, inexperi-enced and weaving cyclists upahead or blindly coming up from be-hind you, trail poles, unleashed dogs,distracted children darting acrossthe trail, blind street crossings-well,you get the idea. Cycling a busy trailis like biking through a multidimen-sional kaleidoscope. The riding land-scape is constantly changing anddangerous challenges can pop up in
an instant. While some of the trails in D.C.
present those challenges, many donot. Most trails are used by peopleaccustomed to peacefully and civillysharing a multi-use trail. In fact, theonly time our group decided tohightail it off a route was a streetsegment we were riding on in an
area called Hains Point, a smallpeninsula just off the Jefferson Me-morial, near the Tidal Basin. I wasgiven a tip by a Federal Park Rangerthat it was a great circuit to spy thecherry blossoms that were at peakbloom.
On a checkout ride I did the daybefore at 8:30 in the morning, theloop–a three and a quarter mile seg-ment many riders in the D.C. areause to time trial–was just perfect.The road was clean and empty, andthe blossoms and magnolias wereawesome. But in 24 hours all thathad changed. Our group was stuckbehind a stalled, mile-long parade ofcars and tour buses. Luckily, I hadmade note of a bail-out street just incase this scenario arose, and aftertaking a vote, our group pedaledaway from the vehicular craziness.
We soon found solace on theMartha Custis Trail, a route thatstarts in downtown D. C. and con-nects with the Washington and OldDominion Trail in East Falls Church,Virginia, about four miles west ofWashington. The WOD is actuallydesignated as a regional “park” inthe commonwealth of Virginia, onethat extends 45 miles in length. Ittakes its name from the railroadwhose trains ran along its way from1859 to 1968. Less than a decadeafter it was built, it was almost de-stroyed during the Civil War. Be-cause of when it was constructed,
the WOD is resplendentwith many historical ar-tifacts, and passesthrough many Civil War-era towns.
Our group’s destina-tion was Herndon, Vir-ginia, a ride 20 milesfrom our start point. Thehistoric towns wepassed through in-cluded Falls Church,Dunn Loring, Vienna andReston. The trail was re-spondent with wildlifeand flora of all species.When we finally arrivedin Herndon, in a quaintarea of a bustling town,
we were ready for lunch. Happily,there were a number of mom andpop eateries to grab a take-outlunch including Green Lizard Cy-cling, a cycling shop and bistro thatmade a mango smoothie that was
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Cycling the Nation’s CapitalBy Ralph Monti
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masterlink / MAY 2014
just crazy good. While our group was enjoying its
trek to Virginia, Peggy and Bill Tel-gheder, the co-leaders of the D.C.bike weekend, were accompanyingyet another group of BTCNJ mem-bers on a Washington MonumentBike Tour. The group met in the earlymorning with two National ParkRanger volunteers, dressed in full cy-cling gear, in front of the JeffersonMemorial.
For the next several hours the parkvolunteers led a cycling tour of themonuments that dot the peripheryof the Tidal Basin and beyond. Someof these included the Franklin D.Roosevelt Memorial, the World WarII Memorial, the Martin Luther KingMemorial, the Korean War memorialand the Vietnam War memorial. Thepark service offers monument cy-cling tours to the public for free,they usually start at 2 pm most days,but BTCNJ was able to secure a pri-vate tour by coordinating with thePark Service well beforehand.
After a quick lunch, Peggy and Billthen led their group to Arlington Na-tional Cemetery to view the chang-ing of the guard, and then on to theUnited States Marine Corp War Me-morial that commemorates soldierswho died fighting in the Pacific the-ater of World War II.
Sunday was getaway day for ourgroup, so a short ride was in order.Frank Wimer, the BTCNJ memberand proud Georgetown Universityalum who created the D.C. weekendtrip two years ago, led 30 membersof BTCNJ around a trail loop aroundthe outskirts of northwest DC.
The ride started out in George-town, looped north into Bethesda,Maryland and snaked back souththrough Rock Creek Park, a pictur-esque park that features Washing-ton’s National Zoo. It was a greatcoda to a wonderful weekend ofbike riding with fellow BTCNJ mem-bers.
For more information on cycling inWashington, D.C., visit godcgo.comor chat with any of the 40 memberswho enjoyed a great weekend of rid-ing in D.C.
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masterlink / MAY 2014
It’s picnic seasontime! The annualBTCNJ picnic at beau-tiful Campgaw Moun-tain Reservation will takeplace on Sunday,May 18th. This is agreat time for clubmembers toride, eat andsocialize to-gether withold friends.It’s also agreat time andplace for new members to experi-ence a friendly introduction to theBTCNJ group.
Rides of all levels, A through D,depart from Campgaw in themorning before the picnic. Thepark gates open at 7:30 for the ridestarts. Check the website for theride listings and departure times.
The picnic begins when membersreturn from themorning rides-itbegins around12:00 noon orso and runsthrough themid-afternoon.
Rides willmeet in thelarge gravelparking areanear the picnicsite on the Campgaw road parkingarea and ride meeting site. This ison the left just past the Campgawski slope access road. The roadsaround Campgaw are lovely for rid-ing without heavy traffic.
The cost of participation? FOOD!Please bring one potluck dish thatwill feed 6-8 people. Bring two if you like! There is usually no shortage of appetites. Please review the categories, find the letter your name begins with andthe food recommended to bring:
A – E: Snacks, Chips, Dips;F – K: Main dishes/Vege-tarian always welcome;L – O: Salads, Veggies,Pasta; P – R: Fruit; S – Z:
Desserts.The best
way to keepfood fresh forthe picnicwhile youare riding inthe morning
is to bring acooler or other
container with ice and leave it inyour car. Please don’t drop off foodat the picnic site before you leavefor your ride.
The club provides hot charcoal-broiled hamburgers, cheeseburg-ers, hot dogs, and non-alcoholiccold drinks. Members bring theirfavorite salads, side dishes, andlots of desserts to share with
everyone.Volunteers!
We need volun-teers to helpwith the setup,cleanup, mar-shaling the foodtables, andhelping out inthe grill area. All help will bea p p re c i a te d .
Any “Foodies” out there with somegood ideas? Please contact Claudia Dukeshire at 201-818-0480or [email protected].
Directions: the picnic is in thesame area as the Ramapo Rally.The only variation is to bear left atthe gate that leads to the ski areaand you will see the picnic area onyour left. Lots of parking available.You can also find directions at:www.skicampgaw.com/directions.
-Claudia Dukeshire,Picnic Coordinator
BTCNJ Annual Picnic May 18thCampgaw Mountain Reservation, Mahwah, NJ
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Every year BTCNJ offers a massive calendar of rides thatcater to a broad variety of
cyclists; this is only possible by thecommitment and energy of our RideLeaders, the backbone of the clubsuccess, who through their enthusi-asm and volunteering keep ours asthe largest touring club in the Stateof New Jersey.
For this year of cycling our maingoal is to keep a strong and bal-anced number of safe rides that suitthe diverse levels of skill and speedof our membership; but we alsowould like to increase the number ofrides posted through the year andextend the range of options for allour categories. In addition, we wantto encourage more members to tryto become new Ride Leaders.
In order to createmore incentives forour group of cur-rent leaders andbring new mem-bers to post rideson their favoriteroutes, we are in-troducing somechanges for 2014 in our system thatacknowledges their time and effortplanning, posting and leading rides.
For 2014, those members leadingrides for the D, F (family rides) andall the off-road categories (MD, MC,and MB) will be awarded with 2points. In addition, we are creating atwo level scale of prizes.
By offering an award to the Leaders that collect at least 8 ridepoints, we want to encourage newand old time members to start organizing and leading rides, in particular for the lower speed categories. The new minimum of 12 ride points will represent a
refreshing chal-lenge for thosemembers whowant to achievetheir 2014 RideLeader Jersey; essen-tially, we want to inspirethem to increase theirparticipation by leadingand co-leading clubrides.
For the past years wehave been steadily growingour number of rides; in 2013, 185 ofour leaders posted, led and re-ported a total of 1015 rides, a newabsolute record number for ourClub. Our membership has also beenexpanding alongside the growth ofthe number of people embracing cy-cling as a sport and a lifestyle.
Our goal is to match these devel-oping trends by offering more andbetter rides for BTCNJ members,and we count on our extraordinarygroup of Ride Leaders to achieve it. We know them, we love their effortand admire their commitment, andin May, the National Bike Month, wewould like to commemorate the
passion for the sport that we all love.For this year, during our May
meeting those Ride Leaders that accumulated 10 or more points
will be awarded the 2013Ride Leader Jersey; the
contest winning de-sign by our fellow
member JenSpero Kenney.
With a specialmention to
Karl Sarkozi,Madeline Coronato
and Alan Scherl, the topthree Ride Leaders
of 2013, we wouldlike to show oura p p re c i a t i o nand gratitude to
all of them. Wewant to acknowledgeour Ride Lieutenants:Henry Gozdz, KeithSchlanger, AlanScherl, Glenn Barnes,
Amado Cabaero, and MadelineCoronato, who volunteered to coor-dinate the schedule of rides and help Ride Leaders in each
category all yearlong. Once againwe also want togive a specialthanks to Laura VanRiper, for her relentless job col-lecting the sign-uplists and tallying
the 2300 incentive points fromevery single ride, tour and event of2013.
Join us for our May Club meetingfor a celebration of another year ofoutstanding rides with our remark-able Ride Leaders, and feel inspired;for next year one of those exclusivejerseys may be yours.
RANGE OF POINTS AWARD SCALE
8 to 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BTCNJ merchandise(excluding BTCNJ jerseys)
12 or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ride Leader Jersey(optional one-year membership extension)
“The new minimum of 12 ride points will represent a refreshing challenge
for those members who want to achievetheir 2014 Ride Leader Jersey”
RIDES CAPTAIN’S CORNER:
Changes in the RideLeader Point SystemBy Andres Tiribocchi
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One of the more scenic ridesused by the Bicycle TouringClub of North Jersey takes
place in Somerset County. This 35-mile flat to rolling route begins andends at the Bedminster I parking lot,across the street from Burger Kingon Burnt Mills Road in Bedminster.Soon after you begin your ride, youwill be on beautiful country roads,filled with horse farms, cattle, rivers,streams, and wooded areas. You’ll bepassing , Mountainville, Pottersville,Lamington and Bedminster. Thereare several bathroom and food stopsalong the way, and they are markedon your cue sheet.
The first stop will be at mile 14.9 onWater Street in the cute little villageof Mountainville. The building has
been around since 1880 and hasserved as the local post office, ageneral store, and now a quainteatery. The second stop will be a delistop in Pottersville at mile 21.4.
This is one of those rides that hasa number of great photo opportuni-ties along the way. Keep your eyes
open for a thatched roof house thatlooks like it came from Provence inFrance. You can’t miss the old gristmill that looks like a giant bikewheel. At mile 18.5 you will be on Hollow Brook Road. Enjoy thisstunning two-mile winding downhillroad. Be careful.
Not only is it a beautiful ride, it isalso an area that has an interestinghistory in its past. Remember Zebu-lon Pike? Pikes Peak in Colorado? Hewas born in Lamington. In thosedays it was called Lamberton. Sadly,he was killed at the Battle of Yorkduring the War of 1812. He was only34 years old and already a BrigadierGeneral.
Remember Harriet Stratemeyer?Not a household name? How about
Carolyn Keene and Franklin Dixon?They were all one and the same per-son. Harriet wrote many of theNancy Drew novels using the nameCarolyn Keene and Franklin Dixonfor some of the Hardy Boys books.She lived in Pottersville until herdeath.
Pottersville was actually calledLamington. Unfortunately it becamePottersville when poor old WilliamWillet was forced to sell his mills toSerrin Potter when the ContinentalArmy bankrupted him during the Revolutionary War when theycouldn’t pay off their bills. Newname. Pottersville. If you have achance, lock up your bikes andcheck out the hiking trail along theBlack River and its’ three waterfalls.Careful. It’s best seen when theleaves are gone.
If you have time to get off the mainroute when you reach mile 25.7 andthe intersection with LamingtonRoad, make a left turn for a quartermile and visit the Lamington Presby-terian Church which was built in1740 and is now included in the Na-tional Register of Historic Places.
After the visit make a U-turn andcontinue on Lamington Road (Route523). The cue sheet will take youback to Burnt Mills Road and a flatfour-mile ride along the river to thefinish line. Enjoy the ride, and ridesafely.
For cue sheets of the route, logonto: btcnj.com/cuesheets/country-roads.html
CYCLING:
Country Roads RideBy Ethan Brook
Ethan Brook is the
Past President of
The Bicycle Touring Club
of North Jersey.
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Amy Rafferty joined BTCNJ inJune of 2008. She beganleading rides for the club in
2012. Currently she is co-leading aMonday evening C* ride out of Oak-land and co-leading the Wednesdayevening C* ride out of GlenRock/Fairlawn (until Jeff and Sheilatake over in May).
Those of you who have ridden withAmy know she is an exemplary rideleader. She provides education in theart and safety of group riding andleaves no one behind. Her humor,sensitivity and sense of responsibil-ity are greatly appreciated!
In the past, Amy has volunteeredto lead rides for Ted Semegran’sBergen County Bike Tour. She led a
25 mile ride one year, but what she enjoyed most was the five-mileFamily Ride in 2013! She said the kids were so sweet. There was a seven-year-old girl on the ride that just stopped at some point, gotoff her bike and laid down on thegrass. So Amy joined her. They prob-ably both needed a rest in the extreme heat.
Amy is also a volunteer outside ofBTCNJ. She is involved with Habitatfor Humanity & Chubb, buildinghouses. This year she is also volunteering for the SpecialOlympics in Princeton.
Some of her riding accomplish-ments include the 2011 Ragbrai ridein Iowa, the Warren County Hot Air
Balloon Bicycle Race, LivestrongPhilly and Austin, and the PumpkinPatch Pedal Century in 2009.
We are most appreciative forAmy’s volunteering spirit. In March,she volunteered to facilitate the Defensive Skills all day Clinic at the Ridgewood Library whennone of the Board Members were available.
Congratulations Amy on being theBTCNJ April volunteer of the Monthand we look forward to your contin-ued support!
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:
April 2014 – Amy RaffertyBy Leslie Felsen
May Membership MeetingThursday, May 8, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
The 2013 Ride Leader Jerseys willbe presented to the largest groupof ride leaders since the foundingof BTCNJ. So come out to honorthe 183 leaders that make this clubso special. These volunteers sched-uled over 1900 rides in 2013, whichworks out to the amazing rate ofover 5 rides per day.
In addition to theawarding of thejerseys, club mem-ber Oliver Zong,Doctor of Podia-try, will talk to usabout how to carefor our feet. They are the primaryinterface that we have with our bicycles so we need to know howto protect and care for them.
Ridgewood Public Library125 North Maple AvenueRidgewood, NJ 07450Phone: 201-670-5600www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/directions.htm
Start Site: Ramsey Municipal Parking Lot
Start Times: Levels D, C & C*-9:30am, wheels onthe road at 9:45amLevel B- 9:00amLevel B*/A- 8:00am
BTCNJ women, join us in the FirstBTCNJ Annual CycloFemme Ride!
CycloFemme, a global women’sbiking movement, honors thepast, celebrates the present, and empowers the future of women in cycling! We cycle for health, fitness and fun! Sign up today for these led rides on the BTCNJwebsite: Check out our great rideleaders!
There are rides for level B*(A) toD riders at varying distances. TheB*(A) will leave around 8:00am as
the goals are to all finish at12:00pm, enjoy some homemadesnacks via tailgate, and anyonewishing to join us can walk overto the local Italian deli for somelunch and socializing.
All riders will receive cool officialCycloFemme temporary tattoosto show solidarity!Decide where youwill wear it!
There is an officialCycloFemme jerseyavailable at primalwear.com
Women only please–This ride is for us!
Barbara AugenblickMargaret MontiLeslie Felsen
CALLING ALL BTCNJ WOMEN!CycloFemme Global Women’s Ride, Saturday - May 10th
masterlink / MAY 2014
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Irecently attended the annual North American Hand-Built Bike Show in Charlotte, NC. The bikes are even more impressive as works of art thanas they are modes of transportation. Personally, I came away from the
show not really coveting a hand built bike. In fact, the bikes that I liked themost were bikes that looked the most like production bikes, not the mostnovel or unusual. However, I did fall in love with the tandem made of blackwalnut. Wouldn’t it look fabulous hanging on my living room wall?
GADGETS AND GEAR:
The North AmericanHand-Built Bike Show:Charlotte, NCBy Geoffrey Silverstein
Alchemy Best in Show and Best Carbon Layup
Argonaut Road Bike
Moots Cargo Bike with Chainsaw
Eriksen Best Road Bike
Riivo Custom-Made Shoes
Centerville U Tandem Made of Black Walnut
Upgrade ofthe Month:ShiftersDo you love your bike?
But you’ve noticed that some of the newer bikes have a cleaner look, with their cables run under the handlebar tape?And it’s easier to wrap yourthumbs around the hoods whenthere’s no shift cable coming out the side.
I recently upgraded my shifters,and I find that my hand positionis much improved. Keep in mind,most Shimano shifters are compatible between models, so if you like the comfort and feelof Dura-Ace or Ultegra, you canstill use less expensive derailleurs. And new cables that accent yourcolor scheme are also a lot offun!
masterlink / MAY 2014
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Terrain: Varied, Rolling to HillyMileage/Day: 20 to 40 milesRecommended Riding Level: C* and Higher
The Ramapo Mountain Ski Club has a lodge at the MadRiver Glen Ski Area, just outside Waitsfield, Vermont,approximately a six hour drive from northern NJ. Thereare uncrowded country roads, beautiful scenery andthree riding days to enjoy it.
Sticking to the flatter rides, possible routes includedStowe, Vergennes, Bristol and the Burlington LakeShore. Rides will be outside the immediate ski areawith carpooling recommended, so bring your largestbike rack. I will lead one ride per day, usually by majority vote, and at a slow C* pace. We usually try to provide a shorter option depending on the ride. But, some have been known to tackle a more challenging option. There are many more routes tochoose from if you want to strike out on your own or in smaller groups. You can do a longer ride, asteeper hill or even go hiking.
We have asked our winter cook to come in and helpfeed us, so the cost is a little higher, but includes threefull breakfasts and two dinners. Lunch will be on theroad, and you should bring your beverage of choice,
especially for after the ride.
The rooms are four people in two bunk beds with abathroom and stall shower, so there is no guarantee on rooming arrangements, though we try to keepgroups together. There is no linen service so you mustbring your own bedding and towel. (I use a sleepingbag to make things easy.) There is no TV, phone serv-ice or Internet at the lodge, but excellent cell phonecoverage on the mountain. This is a club lodge and nota hotel, so you will be expected to help with somechores including dishes, but there are others to help.
The Green Mountain Stage Race is also taking place in the area during our weekend tour, so we will be adjusting the rides and drives to stay out of their way.And, we can also watch some of the action includingthe high-speed finish at the top of Appalachian Gap on Sunday just above the Lodge.
I’ve saved the best for last; the three-night weekend is$110 per person.
Please contact me if you are interested, have any questions or need further information.
Rich Price, 201-818-4148, [email protected]
Vermont Ramapo Labor Day Bike TourAugust 30, 2014 to September 1, 2014Arrive at Lodge on Friday, August 29, 2014
TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
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The Amish Bicycle Weekend returns! BTCNJ returns to the land of the horse and buggy.
Lancaster County is about a four-hour car ride fromBergen County, but the experience of being there is like stepping back into the 19th century. The county is dominated by the Amish and Mennonites, whoselifestyle shuns modern technology and harkens backto a time when life was lived off the land, and beingclose with nature was part of every person’s daily existence.
This makes for idyllic bicycling conditions. Beautifulback country paved roads that cover rolling terrain (no killer hills–well, mostly no killers), interestingsights, and the only traffic to speak of are the Amishfolks in their horse-drawn buggies.
Come join us for a great weekend of cycling. Our homebase will be the Mill Stream Country Inn, a clean andwell-kept motel “deep in the heart of Amish Country,”with beautiful grounds and a small outdoor pool. Wehave cue sheets for rides of varying lengths and diffi-culty, leaving and returning directly to the Inn. We’lllikely lead a mid-length ride on Friday afternoon (forthose who can arrange to get there), a longer ride onSaturday (maybe 50 or a metric), and a short ride onSunday morning before departure. A stay-over optionand ride on Monday 9/15 may also be possible.
Anticipated costs for this weekend trip are $150/per-son based on double occupancy and will include twonights’ accommodations, expanded continental break-
fast on Saturday and Sunday, an après-bike wine/cheese reception on Saturday afternoon, and a groupdinner at an Amish-style restaurant on Saturdayevening. And for old times’ sake (for those who re-member our bike and baseball trips from the late1990s), we may have an optional trip to a minor leaguebaseball game if the local Lancaster Barnstormers arein town and playing that weekend.
Rides will be led at a C* level or above. We will havecue sheets and options available for those who do not want to ride at that pace and/or prefer to ride ontheir own.
This trip sold out early last year, so we are requestingyour payment now to hold/confirm your spot. Pleasesend a check for $150 per person, payable to AlanHorwitz, to the home address listed on the club web-site. Reminder that all trip participants must be clubmembers in good standing (i.e. dues fully paid).
Your trip leaders: Alan Horwitz, Barbara Kauffman,Barbara Augenblick, Ethan BrookQuestions to Alan at [email protected].
Bike the Amish Country September 12 to 14, 2014
BTCNJ will cycle breathtaking New Zealand’s South Island from February 16, 2015 to February 28, 2015 as a private tour through Vermont Bicycle Tours.
Details will be available in the June MasterLink.
BTCNJ New ZealandFebruary 16 to 28, 2015
Local Cycling Event Rides
Last year we posted “Leaderless Rides” on the BTCNJ Ride Schedule forlocal cycling events such as the Revolutionary Ramble, Flattest Century,Blooming Metric, etc. We did this so that BTCNJ members who attendedthese events could ride together. Several BTCNJ volunteers came forthafter we posted these “Leaderless Rides” and assumed the role of RideLeader which was greatly appreciated by those who attended the ride.
This year we encourage you to post rides on the BTCNJ Ride Schedule for cycling events that you plan to attend. We can also list your ride in the BTCNJ eletter. Below are some of the local cycling events.
May 3: Farmlands Flat Tour, www.cjbc.org, Lincroft, NJ
June 1: Blooming Metric, www.soundcyclists.com, Westport, CT
June 14: Revolutionary Ramble, www.rambleride.org, Madison, NJ
September 7: Flattest Century, www.nbwclub.org, Dartmouth, MA
September 27: Sea Gull Century, www.seagullcentury.org, Salisbury, MD
TBD: Pumpkin Patch Pedal, www.sibike.org, Jamesburg, NJ
Some events which are farther away from New Jersey may require anovernight stay, and I encourage you to become the Event Coordinator and organize a group event. I will gladly help you out. Please contact meif you have any questions.
-Bill Telgheder, Tours
masterlink / MAY 2014
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AAA ExpandingBicycle AssistanceService Program in Three More NJ CountiesBTCNJ members may recall thatin my August 2013 President’sMessage (Time to Bike Differ-ently) I wrote that the South New Jersey AAA was offering anemergency assistance programfor cyclists, much like they do forfour wheeled vehicles.
Well, there’s more good news to report, especially for BTCNJmembers biking in the Essex,Morris and Union counties. No Bergen county service yet,unfortunately.
Beginning immediately, AAA isoffering bicycle benefits to all itslevels of membership. The serviceis provided at no additional cost,and operates just like roadsidecar assistance.
Each AAA member receives twobicycle calls per year, neither ofwhich count against auto roadservice allotments. Trails or otheroff-road locations cannot beserviced by AAA service vehicles.
Transportation will be providedto you and your bike to yourhome, you vehicle or another location, free of charge within a limited range.
For more information on the program, visit AAA.com/bicycleor call 800-564-6222.
-Ralph Monti
masterlink / MAY 2014
PAGE 13
Last month’s President’s Mes-sage discussing mutual re-spect between Ride Leaders
and riders, generated a number ofletters and comments. The columnexplored the issue of a small numberof ride leaders not maintaining theadvertised pace. It also pointed outthe issues for ride leaders whensmall groups of riders break aheadand/or leave a ride.
The following letters are from tworide leaders addressing both issues.The first is from Ralph Pantuso, aride leader who has garnered a ded-icated following in BTCNJ. The sec-ond letter was penned by a rideleader who asked to remain anony-mous. He discusses his solutions toaddress rogue riders.
Hi Ralph,
I just finished reading your excellent
President’s Message column in the April
2014 MasterLink and I would just like to
add one very brief but important comment.
As you well know I am a very experienced
and, hopefully, very well respected ride
leader and I have been leading club rides
for well over twenty years. What I’ve found
after leading countless rides that as a ride
leader one needs to keep this very simple
approach in mind when leading ride.
It goes something like this:
When leading a ride, regardless of how
great and strong you may feel that day,
your performance on the ride can only be
as good as slowest rider on the ride,
provided of course that the rider is capable
of riding within the range of ride’s listed
category. So if the ride is a B ride and the
slowest rider is just barely doing 13 mph
then that 13 mph should also be your
(the ride leader’s) average.
Such a simple rule and yet so many ride
leaders cannot seem to follow it.
See you on the road,
Ralph Pantuso
Ralph:
You had a recent article on riders leaving
a ride at a higher pace than advertised or
taking over a ride. Part of the problem that
you describe is because of the rogue
runaway riders are very familiar with
the roads on or near the chosen route.
The advantage to my routes is that they
are outside of Bergen County and most
Bergen County riders are lost outside of
Bergen County. I tell them that they have
my permission to pass me up when I’m
climbing (I’m a little slower and fatter then
my riders) as long as they wait SINGLE
FILE on top of the hill or at the stop sign.
That’s the only time they can pass me up.
I also tell them that if you find yourself
following someone ahead of me on the
flats or downhills, you will find yourself
off the ride.
And I tell them that I don’t always follow
the cue sheet back especially when people
go ahead of me. And I tell them the cue
sheet may not be 100% correct (even
though it is). That keeps them in line.
So they have a tendency to stay behind me.
Occasionally a B rider joins my ride
and doesn’t like the pace (My ride is a C*).
These B riders are familiar with the local
roads around my cue sheet, so they take
off and other riders follow them. Too bad
for those other riders because they are off
the ride now. It’s rude but I don’t worry
about it. If they are that inconsiderate, I
don’t want them riding with me anyhow.
It’s simple. If the rider goes ahead of the
leader without the leader’s permission that
person is off the ride.
Thanks.
LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT:
Respecting Each OtherBy Ralph Monti
Volunteers Needed forthe Ramapo Rally!
The Ramapo Rally will be heldSunday, August 17, 2014. It takes about 200 volunteers to have asuccessful Rally. These are some of the volunteering opportunitiesthat we need to fill.
TEAM LEADERS:• Signage Placement and Pick-up• Site Clean-up
PRIOR TO RALLY DAYTEAM MEMBERS:• Arrow painting• Food pick up• Friday water pick up• Friday storage room supply
pick up• Saturday site set up
DAY OF RALLY TEAM MEMBERS:• Manning rest stops• Leading rides• Assisting at start site• Breakfast• Registration check-in• Lunch, set up and clean up• Volunteer party• Merchandise table• Signage placement and pick up• Parking• SAG• Site clean up
This is a great opportunity to give back to the club. For moreinformation or to volunteer, contact Steve Greenberg, Ramapo Rally Coordinator [email protected] or Leslie Felsen, Volunteer Development at [email protected].
masterlink / MAY 2014
PAGE 14
BTCNJ TOURS
Aug. 29-Sept 1
DATE
OpenVermont Ramapo Labor Day Bike Tour
Varied 20-40 Miles $110/person Rich [email protected]
Sept.12-14
OpenBike the Amish Country Rolling Varied $150/personbased on dbl occupancy
Alan [email protected]
May 2-4
ClosedHanover-Gettysburg, PASpring Fling
Varied 20-60 Miles $195/personbased on dbl occupancy
Don Schlenger or Dennis [email protected]@msn.com
May 23-26
Wait List Only
Southern Vermont Varied Varied $310/personbased on dbl occupancy
Linda [email protected]
May 30-June 1
ClosedNarragansett, RI Varied 25-75 Miles $180-$190 plus Dinner
Peter Cafaro or Rosemary [email protected]@aol.com
June 27-July 13
ClosedFrance or Germany?Why Choose, Let’s Do Both!
Varied 500 Miles $2,900, including flights,lodging, some meals,based on dbl occupancy
Ethan Brook or Barbara [email protected]@gmail.com
July 20-26
OpenRAGBRAI Varied Across Iowa $500 plustransportation
Matt [email protected]
July 25-27
ClosedAvon, CTJoint with MAF
Varied 16-60 Miles $250/personbased on dbl occupancy
Harriet [email protected]
August 1-3
OpenLake George, NY Varied 16-65 Miles $210/personbased on dbl occupancy
Barbara [email protected]
August22-24
OpenRhinebeck, NY Varied 30-55 Miles $190/personbased on dbl occupancy
Richard Fine or Amy [email protected]@amyhass.com
Sept.19-21
OpenAmagansett, NY Varied 12-107 Miles $225/personbased on dbl occupancy
May 31-June 4
OpenPannier TourGreat Allegheny Passage
Varied 75 Miles/Day $250 plus Meals
Jim Grady or Steve [email protected]@gmail.com
June 7-8
OpenFrench Creek TourPhoenixville, PA
Varied 12-100 Miles Self Pay Cynthia MacVicker or Bill [email protected]@aol.com
Sept.26-28
OpenSea Gull Century Flat toRolling
Varied Self Pay Helene [email protected]
CAPACITYTOUR TERRAIN DISTANCE PRICE CONTACT
In the table below is a summary of the upcoming tours hosted by BTCNJ.For a full description of the tours, please visit our website. You must be a BTCNJ member to participate in a tour hosted by BTCNJ.
masterlink / MAY 2014
PAGE 15
BTCNJ RIDE CATEGORIES
TERRAIN DESCRIPTIONSHilly: Numerous long and steep climbsModerately Hilly: Numerous climbs, with no “killer” hillsRolling: Some small hills, farmland ups and downsFlat: Minimal gear shifting required
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LEADERSBring maps and/or cue sheets. Discourage riders with unsound bikes from joining the ride. Within thefirst few miles, urge riders who are unable to maintainthe advertised pace to leave the ride. Adhere to theadvertised speed of the ride. Advise riders exceedingyour intended pace that they will be considered to beon their own.
RIDE LEADERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR SIGN-IN SHEETSTO EARN RIDE LEADER POINTS.
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RIDERSRiders must obey NJ motor vehicle laws. Bring tools:tire irons, pump, and spare tube. Bicycle must be ingood working order. Don’t ride in a category that istoo difficult for you. Advise leader if you are making anunscheduled stop or leaving the group. Rides will notgo in the following conditions (unless otherwise notedin the rides description): rain, snow, wet or icy roads,or temperatures under 32°. Rides will leave 15 minutesafter the published meeting time (unless otherwisenoted.) For rides longer than 15 miles, bring snacks, for rides over 30 miles, bring lunch (unless a deli stopis indicated). Note: anyone under 18 years of age mustbe accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on allrides. Every rider is required to wear a helmet thatmeets CPSC Performance Standards on all club rides.Headphones are not permitted on rides.
RIDE LEVEL DESCRIPTION
A Average speed 17+ mph - For strong/experienced cyclists. Stops every 30+ miles.
B* Average speed 15.0 - 16.9 mph - average speed on flats 17.0 - 18.0 mph. For strong cyclists. Stops every 20 - 25 miles
B Average speed 13.0 - 14.9 mph - average speed on flats 15.0 - 16.0 mph. For solid cyclists. Stops every 15 - 20 miles.
C* Average speed 11.0 - 12.9 mph - average speed on flats 13.0 - 14.0 mph. For solid cyclists. Stops every 15 - 20 miles.
C Average speed 9.0 - 10.9 mph - average speed on flats 11.0 - 12.0 mph. For average cyclists. Stops as needed.
D Average speed Under 9.0 mph - average speed on flats 10.0 mph. For new, inexperienced cyclists. Frequent stops.
F Family ride for families. Frequent stops, child friendly.
MTB-B Mountain Bike - Single track with challenging surfaces, rocks, roots, logs and technical terrain. Extended ascents and challenging descents.
MTB-C Mountain Bike - Single and double track trails with uneven surfaces and minimal obstacles. Gradual and moderate climbing and descents.
MTB-D Mountain Bike - Unpaved wide trails and fire roads with obstruction free riding surfaces. Small and gradual changes in elevation.
A, B*, B Categories: No obligation to wait for stragglers if advertised pace is kept and written directions(cue sheets, maps) are issued. C*, C, D Categories: Group will wait for stragglers and assist those havingmechanical difficulty. MTB rides: the slowest participant dictates ride pace; no rider is ever left behind.
masterlink / MAY 2014
PAGE 16
Allendale Bike Shop.........................Allendale 201-825-0952
D.J.s’ Cycles .............................................Belmar 732-681-8228
Brookdale Cycle .............................Bloomfield 973-338-8908
Get-a-way Cycle Center........Bloomingdale 973-291-4163
Bikeland..................................................Caldwell 973-403-3330
Bikeland II.............................................Chatham 973-635-8066
Closter Cycle...........................................Closter 201-768-3086
Congers Bike Shop ....................Congers, NY 845-268-3315
Steve’s Moped & Bicycle ..................Dumont 201-384-7777
Sam’s Bicycle Repair.............Elmwood Park 201-797-5819
Bike Master......................................Englewood 201-569-3773
Strictly Bicycles...................................Fort Lee 201-944-7074
Carrera Cycles ..................................Glen Rock 201-857-0106
Marty’s Reliable ........................Hackettstown 908-852-1650
Bike Pad ............................................Hawthorne 973-427-9400
Grove Street Bicycles ..................Jersey City 201-451-2453
James Vincent................................Jersey City 201-420-5151
Ramsey Outdoor..........................Ledgewood 973-584-7798
Bicycle Tech ..................................Lincoln Park 973-694-6775
D.J.’s Cycles..................................Long Branch 732-870-2277
Peddler ..........................................Long Branch 732-229-6623
Cycle Craft ......................................Long Valley 908-876-5600
Madison Bicycle Shop.......................Madison 973-377-6616
High Gear Cyclery ...............................Millburn 973-376-0001
Diamond Cycle...................................Montclair 973-509-0233
The Bikery............................................Montclair 973-744-7252
Marty’s Reliable .............................Morristown 973-538-7773
Cycle World.................................New City, NY 845-364-2384
James Vincent...........................North Bergen 201-869-1901
Chelsea Bikes.......................................NYC, NY 646-230-7715
Gotham Bike.........................................NYC, NY 212-732-2453
Toga Bike...............................................NYC, NY 212-759-0002
Nyack Bicycle Outfitters ..............Nyack, NY 845-353-0268
Pedal Sports .........................................Oakland 201-337-9380
CampMor...............................................Paramus 201-445-5000
The Bicycle II........................................Paramus 201-632-0200
Cycle Sport Cyclery......................Park Ridge 201-391-5269
Cycle Craft .......................................Parsippany 973-227-4462
Bicycle Depot..................................Pearl River 845-735-8686
Heino’s Ski and Cycle................Pequannock 973-696-3044
Piermont Bicycle.......................Piermont, NY 845-365-0900
Cycle Center...........................Pompton Lakes 973-835-6339
Bicycle Source.......................Pompton Plains 973-835-7595
Bike & Ski Shop ....................................Ramsey 201-327-9480
Ramsey Outdoor..................................Ramsey 201-327-8141
Marty’s Reliable ....................................Randolf 973-584-7773
Cosmic Wheel ........................Ridgefield Park 201-440-6655
Ridgewood Cycle .........................Ridgewood 201-444-2553
Bikeworks....................................Rochelle Park 201-843-6409
Original Bike Shop ...................Saddle Brook 973-478-6555
Valley Cycle .........................Spring Valley, NY 845-356-3179
High Gear Cyclery................................Stiriling 908-647-2010
Bicycle Workshop .................................Tenafly 201-568-9372
Toga Bike..............................Upper Nyack, NY 845-358-3455
Town Cycle............................West Milford, NJ 973-728-8878
Albert’s Westwood Cycle ...........Westwood 201-664-1688
Whippany Cycle ..............................Whippany 973-887-8150
Wyckoff Cycle......................................Wyckoff 201-891-5500
The owners of all these shops support BTCNJ. Please tell them you saw their shop in the MasterLink. Show them your BTCNJ membership card for a 10% discount off accessories and parts. They are skilled bicyclepros, and we urge you to use their services. Please note that the discount may not apply to sale items and may not allow credit card payment. Please note that the individual shop owners have sole discretion over the definition of “accessories and parts” and of the items in their stock to which any BTCNJ-related discount applies.
SUPPORT YOURLOCAL BIKE SHOP
As proof of BTCNJ membership, you will need to print your membership card through the BTCNJ website. Log onto the site, select Membership Card under the Membership tab. Printing instructions are provided.
masterlink / APRIL 2014
PAGE 17
Present: Ralph Monti, PresidentAlan Scherl, Vice PresidentRhonda Pekow, SecretaryHarold Todman, MembershipLarry Schwartz, MasterLink & WebmasterAndres Tiribocchi, Rides CaptainBarbara Augenblick, Public RelationsEthan Brook, Past President Bill Telgheder, ToursNot Present: Steve Greenberg, Ramapo RallyFrank Wimer, Treasurer
Call to OrderPresident Ralph Monti opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
President:• Ralph Monti discussed the revised gift and gratuity bylaw to board members. The following revised bylaw
was passed by the board. No member of BTCNJ, including board members, weekend tour leaders, ride leaders, MasterLink contributors, etc., working or coordinating with an outside vendor who is providing aservice or product to BTCNJ, shall accept favors or gifts. If indeed a free or bartered product or service is offered by a vendor, then the value of such a product or service gift shall be amortized to participating members purchasing that service or product, or to BTCNJ itself. Violations may result in loss of Leader Points and/or suspension from such activities.
• To protest LG Electronics’ proposed 143 foot headquarters, which would rise above the tree line along thePalisades on route 9W, BTCNJ, NJ Bike and Walk Coalition, and Bike New York are sponsoring a bicycle rideon April 27, 2014. Andres Tiribocchi is coordinating the event for BTCNJ.
• The registration to trademark BTCNJ and Ramapo Rally is complete, with assistance from Keith Danish, Intellectual Property attorney and BTCNJ member.
• Ralph Monti informed the board that Steve Greenberg has arranged a gift for riders in this year’s RamapoRally. The gift will be a tire lever, but without the BTCNJ logo on the tire lever. The board approved the tirelever as the Ramapo Rally gift.
• Ralph discussed with the executive board that a flag flown in the Afghanistan War was given to BTCNJ fromthe adopt-a-soldier platoon. Bill Telgheder agreed to get a flag case with an inscription and present the flagto the Ridgewood Library from BTCNJ.
• Ralph Monti asked the board to canvass a candidate for the advocacy board member position. • A bike rack that was donated from BTCNJ will be installed at the Glen Rock Pool within the next month. • The board approved an addendum to Ride Guideline addressing chronically unsafe riders. The addendum
states if someone repeatedly rides in an unsafe manner, that rider will be asked to leave BTCNJ.
Vice President: • Alan Scherl discussed with the executive board a recent parking issue at the Glen Rock Duck Pond. Alan
explained that there has recently been Facebook chatter about local police officers not allowing BTCNJ riders to park at the Glen Rock Duck Pond. Alan explained that in response the weekly Wednesday (6:00 p.m.) Spin and Tonic bike ride has been moved to another location in Fair Lawn. The address can befound on the ride schedule. Board members could not ascertain if the complaints are valid as no official summons has been given.
BTCNJ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Executive Summary of Meeting MinutesApril 8, 2014
masterlink / MAY 2014
PAGE 18
Rides Captain:• Proposal for changes to the system of ride leader points and awards:
‣ Andres discussed a written proposal he sent to board members a few days prior to the executive boardmeeting. Ride leaders would have to earn 12 or more points to earn a ride leader jersey. Ride leaderswho earn 8 to 11 points would receive a different gift (BTCNJ merchandise to be determined). Andresdiscussed the goals of the modified system with the board members. This system will encourage leaders who typically earn 10 or 11 points a year to lead a few more rides, which will benefit the club by having more rides available. It will also award those who earn 8 or 9 points with a gift. A vote wastaken and the new ride leader points and awards policy was passed. Announcements will go out tomembership as soon as possible.
• Andres suggested posting a Gallery of pictures of past awards and ride leader jerseys to be displayed on theBTCNJ website. The board approved such a gallery.
Membership/Merchandise:• Harold Todman announced that the new members’ dinner is scheduled for May 16, 2014. • Harold also discussed an intellectual property statement that will continue to run in all BTCNJ media.
MasterLink and Web Master:• Larry Schwartz nominated Marc Soloff as the MasterLink editor. Harold Todman seconded the motion.
The board approved that Marc Soloff will be the new MasterLink editor. Larry will send Marc Soloff a letter. • Larry Schwartz explained minor changes to the BTCNJ website that are being put into place. He explained
that the website has free pages that anyone can look at without being logged into the BTCNJ website. Thus, he is creating two websites. One to contain the free pages and be based on Wordpress, and the otherwill be for members only.
Volunteer Development and Special Events: • The board discussed candidates for volunteer of the month.• A CycloFemme bike ride in honor of the global women’s biking movement is being organized by
Margaret Monti, Barbara Augenblick and Leslie Felsen. The event will take place on Saturday, May 10th • The next new member bike ride is scheduled for June 7, 2014. • The maintenance clinic is scheduled for April 12, 2014 at the Ridgewood Library.• Leslie updated the board on the annual picnic, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2014.
Past President:• Ethan Brook discussed with the board the possibility of letting the public know about our new member bike
ride through an article in the Bergen Record. The board decided that given the numbers attending, it wouldnot announce the ride publicly.
• Ethan Brook informed the board that TD Bank has pulled out of being a sponsor for Ramapo Rally.
Public Relations:• Barbara Augenblick is preparing this month’s e-letter and is requesting topics from board members no later
than April 10th or 11th. The board discussed some of the topics discussed at this meeting that should be inthe e-letter (i.e.; membership meeting speakers, Ramapo Rally, tours, etc.)
Tours:• Bill Telgheder updated the board and advised that three new tours have been added to MasterLink this
month: Pannier Tour, French Creek Tour, and the Seagull Century.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rhonda L PekowRhonda L PekowBTCNJ Board Secretary
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